Fluid actuated intermitter



May 25, 1937. E. J. KLoPFENsTElN FLUID ACTUATED INTERMIT'IER ""'fln /l gp Filed July 23. 1954 Patented May 251 i937 UNITED@ stares@ PIA-.TENT o-Frlcsp poration Yof New Jersey ApplicationfJuly-23;1934,. Serial No; 736,552.

slclaims:

This invention relates to affluidaactuated. inf-1.-

termtter; and 'm'ore Aparticularly tooneot .the reciprocatory'.. type 'for rintermittently operating,` valve 4or likerm'echanisml. and: has for Afits :prinsl 5.1 cipal.4 object to provideffori'functionings;of'the:v intermitter ,mechanismfat'zdenite time intervals?.

Other` important. .iobjects'i` of :thee inventionnare tofprovide'. adjustment .of 1 thel time intervals at which: the mechanismisxatzrestf, .to eiiectzsnapiorfaction ofthe intermitter by releasing and con.-

trolling: thefactuating Yfluid under4 influence-otr a latching mechanism, to: `provide adjustment of the latching` mechanism for adaptingk .the intermitter-to different pressures of.the actuating l'afluidf, and totprovide differential time'intervals.

between successive operations of the'intermitter It is also an importanttobject of the invention to `,effect alternate intermittent operation of. twoA or :more valves or-equivalent devicesto-which the maintermitter .is attached.

In accomplishing theseand other. objectsvof thev invention .I .have provided improved... details of structure,- thepreferred form ofr whichis illustrated .inthe accompanyingv drawing, wherein:

5'Jintermitter mechanism. embodying the features of `the.presentiinvention andarrangedlfor effecting, alternate opening and closing of a pair of valves at definite time intervals". 3m` Fig. 2is-a vertical section through the mechanism illustrated'in 1, showingthe operating ,mechanism in one position` of it's` movement u after effecting opening of one of the valves and closing of .fthe other.

Y 35., Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the internetter The 'operatingmechanism includes a housing` 50.,.5comprising mated sections 'I 'and ,v each consistingof a disk-shaped wall portion 9"'having an annular ange portion i0 offset therefromN by an annular connecting wall .II to form arecess I2. The flanges Iare arranged in lface to 55 .face relationV to clamp the peripheral edge I3V Fig. 1 is a, perspective viewof a fluid actuated of a flexible diaphragm: I4 vtherebetween' when the" sections 2are secured vtogether byfastening."` de-- vices If extended `throughiopenings Ivin theflanges and: through :corresponding openings I'I` in. thevdiaphragm, as Yshown in-.Fig.l 2. The-.ref 5 cess'es I2 in` i the Arespective Vsections l thus.- form separate closed chambers I8 and 'IS on the respective 'sidesof the diaphragm and` into `which the diaphragm is made to alternately-flex whenl greater -pressureis vapplied in. lone. chamber than 10 the. other; thereby` effecting i operation lof` A a=-trip rod `29,-*as now tofbe described.

The trip rod 20 extends through `openings-2|v located axially-in theI diskA portions@ ofthe .re-

spectivehousing sectionsandi-through'fan'align 15 ingw-.openingnZZ-in the center of-the diaphragm:`

The portion-of .the rod extendingthrough..t1 1e` diaphragm-.is threaded as at-23-to-mounttnuts 2li :and 25which clampinglyengage the oppositer sides of the diaphragm tosecure the rod' theretosc-that. When-fthe diaphragm is .moved-into andfromsthe respective chambers-the rod will.- be reciprocatedthereby.- The-points-of attach.

ment of .the rod andv sides offthefdiaphragm.arefn preferably reinforced by disk-like'washers .26 and 2lv sleeved onr the rodeahead off .the-.nuts-.and-in. supportingiengagement withthe opposite faces of.. the. diaphragm. TherodV 2=..extends-loosely, through the openings 2l to formnannulanports 28 and 29 .through which. the respective chambers are .ventedto atmosphere,` aslater described.

In. order toi. control lflow from thechambers through. the annular .ports Ythe. rodcarries 4valve disks Strand 3l preferably formed..offfcompres sible-.material andv of suitablediameterto close. the ports when the valves. engage the respective inner `faces of the disk portions of the respective sections.

To admit .a pressure fluid into the respective chambers, the housing. sections. are. provided with openings 34 and 35 into which are threaded the terminal branches 36 and 3l of a supplv'pipe 38 which delivers the fluid from a source of'supply of constant pressure (not. showmfto the respective branches and through the branches .to 45 the respective chambers.. The. branches have less flow capacity than the ports 23`and '29'to' provide venting of the chambers when the ports are opened, as .later described.

With the construction thus far. describedand .50

with the iiow through'the branches being. equaLH the pressure on opposite sidesof the diaphragm will become equalized .and the iiuid Jupon flowing into the chambers'will flow.' directly "to atmos phere through the annular ports. However; 1755..

provide means for yieldingly holding the rod to eifect snap action of the diaphragm whereby either one or the other of the ports is normally closed by its valve disk 39 or 3I, as the case may be, so that pressure is built up cn that side of the diaphragm to cause movement of the diaphragm in the opposite direction to close the opposite port. For example, if the rod is yieldingly held so that the valve disk 39 closes the annular port 29 in the chamber I8, fluid flowing into the chamber I6 will be vented through the port and no pressure will accumulate therein. However, when the pressure is built up suciently in the chamber I3 to resist the holding pressure applied to the rod, the diaphragm will be moved thereby until the valve disk SI closes the port 29 to allow pressure to accumulate in the chamber I9 and exhaust from the chamber I8.

Since the release of the holding means is suddenly and completely effected, the momentum of the rod and expansion of compressed Huid produces snap movement of the diaphragm and rapid opening and closing of the ports, which prevents equalization of pressures in the respective chambers that would stop actuation of the intermitter.

The holding means includes a latch block 39 having an opening 46 therethrough to pass the rod 20 which is adjustably secured thereto by lock nuts 4I and 42 threaded on the projecting end 43 of the rod and engaging the opposite ends of the block.

The latch block has sliding fit within a guide sleeve 4l that is pressed within a tubular boss 45 extending upwardly from the housing section l, the lower end of which has port openings 46 to vent the pressure huid that escapes through the port 28 to atmosphere. 'Ihe latch block has a pair of grooves 4'! and 48 that are spaced apart a distance equal to travel of the rod which, of course, is governed by seating contact of the valves 39 and 3l over the annular ports 26 and 29. While the latch block may be of any shape, it is preferably of cylindrical form with the grooves extending circumferentially thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby they may be engaged by latch balls 49 and 59 positioned on opposite diametrical sides of the block.

The latch balls are normally retained in one or the other of the grooves by means of springs 5I and 52 that are housed within tubes 53 and 54 projected through openings 55 in the tubular boss 45 and have their inner ends threaded into aligning openings 56 in the guide sleeve. The outer ends of the tubes are internally threaded to accommodate adjusting screws 5l and 56 having their ends bearing against the springs to adjust tension thereof whereby the holding power of the latch balls is varied to correspond with the pressure of the fluid delivered through the pipe 38.

In order to mount the actuating mechanism in operative relation with the valves 2 and 3 a pair of bars 59 and 69 are secured to the housing section 8 and have laterally extending spaced ends respectively secured to the opposite ends of the valve housings, as shown in Fig. l.

The valves 2, 3 may be of any suitable type but have reciprocable valve stems 63 and 64 carrying slotted heads 65 and 66 for seating a common operating level` 6I therein and which is pivotally mounted on a standard 63 having its lower end carried on a bridge 69 connecting the valve housings, the lever being connected to the standard by a pivot screw 10. In order that the lever may rock on its fulcrum 'I9 and still allow vertical movement of the valve stems, the ends of the lever are loosely mounted in the slots of the heads 65 and 66 between pairs of rollers 'II and 'I2 engaging the upper and lower edges thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the lever extends laterally fromy the valves and connects with a slotted head 73 on the end 43 of the rod 29 by means of a pin and slot connection 14.

In air flowing of oil or like wells the iiuid from the producing sand is flowed, usually under well pressure, into a receiver that is located adjacent the bottom of the well. When a load or quantity of Well fluid is in the receiver, the air is delivered thereto through one of the pipes 4 or 5 to blow or ow the load of liquid under displacement pressure to the top of the well. At the time the receiver is emptied, the ow of air is shut off to allow refilling of the receiver before the air pressure is again applied.

It is thus apparent that the valves must be opened and closed in conformity to the flow of well fluid to and from the respective receivers; that is, the air supply valve must remain closed until the receiver for that well is lled, and then it must remain open until the load is discharged.

It is, therefore, necessary to adjust the intervals of rest at the respective functions of the intermitter to correspond with the respective ows of the well iuid. This is accomplished by controlling the rate of flow of the pressure fluid into the respective chambers I8 and I9. By controlling the rate of flow I am enabled to accurately time the period required for the pressure in the chambers to overcome the resistance of the latching means and thereby regulate the length of the rest periods of the intermitter and the time the valves 2 and 3 are open and closed.

In controlling the rate of flow I preferably provide the branches 36 and 3l with control valves 'l5 and 'I6 respectively, whereby the flow velocity therethrough may be selectively restricted to prolong the time required in overcoming the resistance of the latch means. In order to increase the length of the rest periods and also to provide a smoother operating mechanism in case of fluctuation of the pressure in the pipe 38, the branch pipes 36 and 31 are each connected at a point. between the valves l5 and 16 and the corresponding chambers I8 and I9 with accumulator tanks 'Il and 'I8 which, in effect, increase the capacity of the respective chambers so that the pressure must also be alternately built up and lowered in the respective accumulators as well as in the chambers to eifect movements of the intermitter.

In operating an intermitter constructed and assembled as described, the screws 57 and 53 are adjusted to tension the springs for effecting the desired resistance of the latching mechanism to retain, for example, the valve disk 3i] in closing relation with the port 28. When this port is closed the latch balls are engaging in the lower groove 48 and the lever is supported in position to retain the valve 3 closed and the valve 2 open whereby air is cut off in the pipe 4 and flowing in the pipe 5. The well served by the pipe 5 is therefore flowing oil from its receiver and the receiver in the well served by the pipe 4 is in the act of filling. The valves l5 and 'I6 are then opened to allow flow of pressure uid through the branches 36 and 31 to the chambers I8 and I9.

Since the port 29 is open, the uid fiowing to that chamber will be vented therethrough to at- However, the springs are so tensioned that before this pressure is reached, the latch balls yield to free the rod 20. Immediately upon freeing of vthe rod, the pressure fluid in the chamber i3 acts to drive the diaphragm into the chamber I9 to close the port 29 and open the port 28. Upon this movement of the rod the lever acts to close the valve 2 so that flow of air is cut ofi to the well served by the pipe 5 wherein the receiver was being emptied and to open the valve 3, admitting flow to the receiver in the other well which had been filling. When the valve disk 3| has closed the port 29, the balls will have engaged in the upper groove 41 toIV latch the rod in that position.

Pressure which has accumulated in the chamber I8 will exhaust to atmosphere through the port 28 and openings 46 for the reason that the flow capacity of the port 28 is greater than the flow capacity of the branch pipe 36 and the pressure fluid will therefore leak from the chamber faster than it can be admitted thereto. However, pressure will accumulate in the chamber I9 due to closing of port 29 and when the pressure overcomes the resitance of the latch mechanism, the intermitter rod will be reciprocated in the opposite direction, completing one cycle of operation.

It is apparent that the cycle of operations will be continuous as long asl pressure fluid is supplied to the respective chambers with definite periods 0f rest between operations, depending upon the setting of the valves 15 and 16. Should the intermitter not be operating in synchronism with the required ow periods of the wells, the valves 15 and 1B may be readjusted to give the desired timing. l

While I have described the intermitter as associated with two alternately operated valves, it is obvious that the valves may be arranged to open and close together by rearranging the fulcrum point of the lever 61. It is further obvious that the intermitter may be used to operate one or a greater number of valves and that the period during which the valves are open may be made differential from the period that they are closed by simply differentially adjusting the valves 15 and 16 so that the flow velocities in the respective branches are such as to require a longer time in establishing pressure in one of the chambers than the other.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an intermitter mechanism which is positive in operation and whereby denite time periods may be readily established between the respective operations thereof.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described including a diaphragm housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into separate chambers having aligned outlet ports, a reciprocating member movable through said ports and connected with the diaphragm, valve members on the reciprocating member for successively opening and closing said ports to control outlet of a pressure medium from said chambers, means for admitting a pressure medium to the chambers to pulsate the diaphragm, and means for resisting movement of said reciprocating member to establish definite rest periods betweenrreciprocations of the reciprocating member.

2. A device of the character describedincluding a diaphragm housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into separate chambers having aligned outlet ports, a reciprocating member movable in the housing and having fixed connection with the diaphragm, valve members carried by and movable directly with the reciprocating member for successively opening and closing said ports to control outlet of a pressure medium from said chambers, means for admitting a pressure medium to the chambers to pulsate the diaphragm, means resisting movement of said reciprocating member to establish definite rest periods for said member, and means for regulating velocity of the pressure medium to adjust length of said rest periods.

3. A device of the character described including a diaphragm housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into separate chambers having aligned outlet ports, a reciprocating member movable through said ports and connected with the diaphragm, valve members on the reciprocating member for successively opening and closing said ports to control outlet of a pressure medium from said chambers, means for admitting a pressure medium to the chambers to pulsate the diaphragm, means for resisting movement of said reciprocating member to establish denite rest periods between reciprocations of the reciprocating member, and means for regulating velocity of the pressure medium to adjust length of said rest periods.

4. A device of the character described including a housing having ports in opposite portions thereof, a diaphragm dividing the housing into separate chambers, each having outlet through one of sai-d ports, a pressure medium supply line having branches leading to respective chambers in the housing, valve members movable with the diaphragm to respectively open and close said ports in response to accumulation of pressure medium in the closed chamber, and means connected in each of the respective branches for regulating rate of supply of the pressure medium to said chambers.

5. A device of the character described including a housing having ports in opposite portions thereof, a diaphragm dividing the housing into separate chambers, each having outlet through one of said ports, a pressure medium supply line having branches leading to respective chambers in the housing, valve means movable with the diaphragm to respectively open and close said ports in response to accumulation of pressure medium in the closed chamber, means connected with said chamber for accumulating pressure medium from said branches, and means for regulating frequency of shift of the diaphragm according to volume of pressure medium in a closed chamber and said accumulating means.

6. A device of the character described including a housing having ports in opposite portions thereof, a diaphragm dividing the housing into separate chambers, each having outlet through one of said ports, a pressure medium supply line having branches leading to respective chambers in the housing, valve means movable with the diaphragm to respectively open and close said ports in response to accumulation of pressure medium in the closed chamber, separate means connected with each of said chambers for accumulating pressure medium from a corresponding branch, and means for regulating frequency of shift of the diaphragm according to volume of pressure medium in a closed chamber and its accumulating means.

EDWARD J. KLOPFENSTEIN. 

